This could all be solved by going back to the original rule of up to 3 second delay from the call. No wait-that is blasphemy!

Next thing is that people would not be able to keep gun mounted for entire 3 second interval of time and would assume more of low gun style position and then call! What insanity are you screaming now, Bill!

I am just kidding of course, because it is much too late for NSSA to revert back to much earlier (and tougher) rules. So be it.

Getting good pulls, when shooting informally, is a difficult thing. Other shooters talking, the puller listening to conversations, etc. are some reasons for bad pulls.

In my experience, explaining how to pull, is a good thing. Most pullers want to get it right. A good ref will apply slight pressure to the button and crush the button on the first sound. Of course, keeping the conversation down and having a puller who pays attention is necessary. Sometimes, folks shooting on an adjacent field can cause a good referee to pull fast. A shooter, whose call mimics a Canadian Goose, can cause "fast pulls" 2 fields away.

Then again, some shooters just have "chronic complaint syndrome" and cannot be pleased. I was on a squad that had a complaining shooter. The ref was doing an excellent job. The ref, finally, had enough of the complaining and told the guy. "If you complain again, I'll show you just how many times I can divide 1 second." The guy ceased with his complaints.

I was referring one squad when a shooter accused me of slow pulling him on low one. He shot, missed high one, replaced the shell and shot his option. Missed the option and before the target made it past the low house called for low one. If I slow pulled him, it wasn't more than 1/4 second. Heck, I was giving him the benefit of a doubt and watching the bird until it hit the ground.

Anticipation is a killer for referees. A shooter who gets on the station parks the gun and waits 4 to 5 seconds before calling, usually has fast and slow pulls.

Couple of thoughts about your comments. You said a good referee will keep slight pressure on the button and crush it when the target is called for. Are you inferring that if the referee crushes the button it will cause the electricity to flow through the cord faster to get to the machine and result in a cleaner more immediate bird flight ? I pretty much call poppycock. I’ve refereed thousands of rounds and pulled for friend and foe. Just touch the button when the target is called for. No crushing is required. Anyone that finds fault with that while shooting on my squad will pretty quickly be looking for different shooting partners. When I was shooting competitively many years ago I was a AA shooter in all four guns. I can probably count on one hand when a referee and I had an actual disagreement on what was a slow pull. Now that I’m just shooting with friends for the camaraderie fast or slow doesn’t make much difference. If the pull is fast and the target gets away from the shooter we just throw another target. If it’s a slow pull, a lot depends on the station. Give me a slow pull on high two or low six and I might ask for another target. Pull me slow on just about any other target and I could care less unless it’s doubles on two or six. That doesn’t count shooting doubles all around or in pairs on three, four, and five. A referee watching a shooter and trying to anticipate his call often results in too quick of a target. Regardless, life ain’t perfect. If you ain’t at the World in San Antonio don’t sweat it.

Lastly, and this is just a pet peeve. There is no such thing as a Canadian goose. The proper name is Canada goose.

You obviously haven't used some of the stiffer, less-sensitive buttons that are available out there. Your method would result in 25 straight no-birds with the wireless Long-Range remotes one of my nearby clubs uses

However, I think all oldskeetshooter meant by "crush the button" was a concerted, purposeful, immediate pressing of the button.

I’ve never used a wireless button. The response was written pretty much tongue in cheek. The cords we have to deal with where I shoot are, oftentimes, problematic. It’s kind of a standing joke that if we push the button harder it will cause the electric impulse to travel more quickly.

It's been my experience there will always be a person or two at the club that most shooters learn to avoid handing the pickle, but they will still get hold of it on occasion.

If you are shooting recreational target practice it's not worth mentioning. If you let it ruin your round; reconsider your priorities.